Healthy Texas Mothers & Babies Conference: A Clinical and Community Life Course Perspective.

The Healthy Texas Babies initiative was developed to help Texas communities decrease infant mortality using evidence-based interventions. It involves community stakeholders, healthcare providers, and health care administrators. A reduction in infant mortality will improve the health of Texas babies and mothers and has the potential to save millions of dollars in healthcare costs. The conference, which was held on June 22-24, was centered on the Life Course Perspective and the information and practices health professionals need to improve birth outcomes and maternal health. There were two tracks, Clinical and Community/CHW, available to attendees to facilitate discussion and connection with their peers.

Adriana Corona Luevanos, Texas Department of State Health Services - Region 9/10, Office of Border Health and BBC member presented the "Binational Breastfeeding Coalition: The Border Experiences." Participants were able to identify potential organizations in order to work bi-nationally in the area of breastfeeding. They also learned about traditional and non-traditional partners working together to create a support network to empower women to breastfeed. The Binational Breastfeeding Coalition experience encouraged the audience to think outside the box in creating a culture of breastfeeding.